Microsoft word - schizophrenia.doc

Introduction In this paper, I would like to talk about the Schizophrenia disease because it is worldwide in the field of psychiatry. There is more health than just a physically healthy body; a healthy person also should need a healthy mind. A person with a healthy mind should b e able to think clearly, should be able to solve various problems faced in life, should enjoy good relations with friends, family and colleagues at work, and should feel spiritually at ease and bring happiness to others in the reality they are look two sides of the same coin. Just as the physical body can fall ill, so too can the mind, this is called mental illness, experienced by a person which affects their emotions , thoughts or behavior, which is out of keeping with their cultural beliefs and personality, and is producing a negative effect on their lives or the lives of others. In this work, I am going to talk about the schizophrenia which is the most common mental illness in the world. Definition

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that has been recognized throughout recorded history? People with schizophrenia may hear voices other people don’t hear or they may believe that other are reading their minds, controlling their thoughts, or plotting to harm them. These experiences are terrifying and can cause fearfulness, withdrawal, or extreme agitation. People with schizophrenia may not make sense when they talk, may sit for hours without moving or talking much, or may seem perfectly fine until they talk about what they are really thinking. Because many people with that sickness have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, the burden on their families and society significant as well. Available treatments can relieve many of the disorder’s symptoms, but most people who have schizophrenia must cope with some residual symptoms as long as they live. Nevertheless, this is a time of hope for people with schizophrenia and their families. Many people with the disorder now lead rewarding and meaningful lives in their communities. How can we recognize the Schizophrenia? (Symptoms) Hallucinations A hallucination is something a person sees, hears, smells, or feels that no one else can see, hear, smell, or feel. Voices are the most common type of hallucination in schizophrenia. Many people with the disorder hear voices that may comment on their behavior, order them to do things, warn them of impending danger, or talk to each other. They may hear these voices for a long time before family and friends notice that something is wrong. Other types of hallucinations include seeing people or objects that are not there, smelling odors that none else detects(although this can also be a symptom this can also be a symptom of certain brain tumors), and feeling things like invisible fingers touching their bodies when no one is near. DelusionsThey are false personal beliefs that are not part of the person’s culture and do not change, even when other people present proof that the beliefs are not true of logical. People with schizophrenia can have delusions that are quite bizarre, such as believing that neighbors can control their behavior with magnetic waves, people on television are directing special messages to them, or radio stations are broadcasting their thoughts aloud to others. They may also have delusions of grandeur and think they are famous historical figures. People with paranoid schizophrenia can believe that others are deliberately cheating, harassing, poisoning spying, or plotting against them or the people they care about. These beliefs are called delusion of persecution. Thought disorder: People with schizophrenia often have unusual thought processes. One dramatic form is disorganized thinking, in which the person has difficulty organizing his or her thoughts or connecting them logically. Speech may be garbled or hard to understand. Another form is thought blocking, in which the person stops abruptly in the middle of a thought. When asked why, the person may say that it felt as if the thought had been taken out of his or her head. Finally, the individual might make up unintelligible words. Disorders of Movement Schizophrenic people can be clumsy and uncoordinated. They may also exhibit involuntary movements and may grimace or exhibit unusual mannerisms. They may repeat certain motions over and over or, in extreme cases, may become catatonic. Catatonic is a state of immobility and unresponsiveness. It was more common when treatment for schizophrenia was not available, fortunately, it is now rare. This is the period that a person can start having such symptoms Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions usually emerge in men in their late teens and early 20s and in women in their mid 20s to early 30s. they seldom occur after age 45 and only rarely before puberty, although cases of schizophrenia in children as young as 5have been reported . in adolescents, the first signs can include a change of friends, a drop in grades, sleep problems, and irritability. Because many normal
adolescents exhibit these behaviors as well as , a diagnosis can be difficult to make at this stage. In young people who go on to develop the disease , this is called the prodronal period. Some causes of Schizophrenia

1. Substance abuse Some people who abuse drugs show symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia, and people with schizophrenia may be mistaken for people who are high on drugs. While most researchers do not believe that substance abuse causes that illness, people who have it abuse alcohol and /or drugs more often than the general population. 2. Nicotine The most common of substance abuse in people with schizophrenia is an addiction to nicotine. People with schizophrenia are addicted to nicotine at three times the rate of the general population. 3. Genetic

Scientists have long known that schizophrenia runs in families. It occurs in 1 percent of the general population but is seen in 10percent of people with a first degree relative (parent, brother, sister) with the disorder. People who have second degree relatives (aunts, uncles, grandparents, or cousins) with the identical twin of a person with schizophrenia is most at risk, with a 40 to 65percent chance of developing the disorder. Although there is a genetic risk for schizophrenia, it is not likely that genes alone are sufficient to cause the disorder. Interactions between genes and the environment are thought to be necessary for schizophrenia to develop. Many viruses or malnutrition in the womb, problems during birth, and psychosocial factors, like stressful environment conditions. Medication to give to Schizophrenic patient(client)

Antipsychotic medications

These are some antipsychotic medications: Chloropromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), perphenazine (Etrafon, Trilafon), and Fluphenzine( Prolixin). They can cause extrapyramidal side effects, such as rigidity, persistent muscle spasms, tremors, and restlessness. Everyone responds differently to antipsychotic medication. Sometimes several different drugs must be tried before the right one is found. People with schizophrenia should work
in partnership with their doctors to find the medications that control their symptoms best with the fewest side effects. Psychosocial treatment

Psychosocial treatments can help patients who are already stabilized on antipsychotic medications deal with certain aspects of schizophrenia, such as difficulty with communication, motivation, self-care, work, and establishing and maintaining relationships with others. Learning and using coping mechanisms to address these problems allows people with schizophrenia to attend school, work, and socialize. Patients who receive regular psychosocial treatment also adhere better to their medication schedule and have fewer relapses and hospitalizations. A positive relationship with a therapist or a case manager gives the patient a reliable source of information, sympathy, encouragement, and hope, all of which are essential for managing the disease. Rehabilitation Rehabilitation emphasizes social and vocational training to help people with schizophrenia function more effectively in their communities. Because people with schizophrenia frequently become ill during the critical career-forming years of life (ages 18 to 35) and because the disease often interferes with normal cognitive functioning, most patients do not receive the training for skills work. Rehabilitation programs can include vocational counseling, job training, money management counseling, assistance in learning to use public transportation, and opportunities to practice social and workplace communication skills References